CHINA’S Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed during peace talks in Urumqi to explore a comprehensive solution to the conflict that broke out between the two countries last October.
During a Press briefing, its spokesperson said that both countries agreed at the meetings in China not to take actions that would escalate or complicate the situation, adding Beijing would continue to communicate with both countries and provide a platform for dialogue.
China is making sincere efforts to help defuse tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan and it is encouraging to hear from the spokesperson that the two sides have agreed not to indulge in actions that could lead to escalation. There are also occasional statements from Kabul indicating willingness of the regime to address Pakistan’s security concerns but unfortunately the Afghan Taliban are not ready to offer written and verifiable assurances in this regard. The ground situation has also not changed much as terrorist attacks inside Pakistan continue with linkages to Afghanistan. According to reports, Pakistan conveyed three core demands to the Afghan Taliban during the talks in Urumqi, as China tried to convince both sides to agree on a five-point framework to resolve issues. The three demands put forward by Islamabad at the outset include Kabul formally declaring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) a terrorist organization, dismantling its infrastructure and providing verifiable proof of the action. This demand is in line with the commitments given by the Taliban in Doha Accord that they will not allow the Afghan soil to be used against any other country but Kabul’s avoidance to fulfil this pledge confirms reports that it was using TTP as a proxy to destabilize Pakistan. The declaration to explore a comprehensive solution encompassing issues like trade and cross-border movements under international law is a welcome development but realization of this lofty objective depends mainly on the will and ability of the Taliban to hold TTP accountable for its terrorism against Pakistan.
